Scythe Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/saɪθ/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A scythe is a long-handled agricultural tool with a curved blade used for cutting or harvesting crops, particularly grains and grasses.

Examples

1. “The farmer used a scythe to harvest the wheat in the field.”

2. “She learned how to use a scythe as a tool for clearing land and pruning overgrown vegetation.”

Synonyms

1. Sickle

2. Mowing blade

3. Cutting tool

Antonyms

1. Hoe

2. Pitchfork

3. Rake

Etymology

The word “scythe” originates from the Old English word “sīþ”, which referred to the curved blade of the tool. The term has since evolved to include the long-handled tool itself.

Usage Notes

The word “scythe” is often used in agricultural and gardening contexts to describe the tool and its uses. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone or something that is cutting or harvesting in a more abstract sense.

Cultural References

Scythes have appeared in various literary and artistic works, such as in William Blake’s “The Tyger”, where the tyger is described as having a fiery eye that can cut down like a scythe.

Additionally, scythes have been featured in various forms of media, including video games and films, often symbolizing manual labor, agricultural work, or even violence.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

1. “Cutting down” – used to describe something that is being eliminated or terminated.

2. “Mowing down” – used to describe something that is being cut down or eliminated quickly and efficiently.

Related Words or Phrases

1. Sickle – a curved blade tool similar to a scythe but typically smaller.

2. Harvesting – the act of gathering crops or cutting down vegetation.

3. Cutting tool – a general term for any tool used for cutting or slashing.

Collocations

1. Combine harvester and scythe

2. Field and scythe

3. Farmer and scythe

Frequency of Use

The word “scythe” is not as commonly used in modern language as it once was, with many modern farming practices relying on machines and tools for harvesting and cutting crops.

Common Misspellings

1. Sythe

2. Sythee